Chapter Twenty-One

Restless and stifled by isolation, Poppy disguises herself, slips from the castle, and sneaks into the Atheneum to borrow Willa Colyns’s infamous diary. Losing track of time while reading, she ducks into a private room—only to hear the Duke arrive, forcing her onto a narrow exterior ledge to avoid discovery.

From outside the window, Poppy overhears the Duke and a male subordinate discuss the Descenter who disrupted the recent address. The man identifies the prisoner as Lev Barron, confirms Lev is not Atlantian, and reports that Lev claims a hidden truth about third sons and daughters. He explains the Craven hand came from an infected guard whom locals helped “put down,” revealing the Duke’s awareness of the quiet death-with-dignity network.

The Duke disdains the network, wants the names of those involved, and decides to visit Lev himself, implying Lev will die in custody without a public trial. Troubled by the planned extrajudicial killing, Poppy waits until the room falls silent, then inches back toward the window, fearing exposure.

Hawke, now in the room, calls to her through the window. He coaxes her inside, catches her around the waist, and removes her hood, confronting her over the reckless stunt and how she slipped out. Their banter softens into charged closeness as Hawke holds her, his touch lingering and his lips brushing her cheek.

The scene ends with their mutual desire cresting into an imminent kiss, underscoring Poppy’s growing defiance of restrictions and the intensifying stakes: the Duke’s ruthless control over dissent and Poppy’s deepening, dangerous bond with Hawke.